Why Are Cancer Sufferers Considered To Be Brave?Brave?

[dave50]

They have no choice, it's not something they have intentionally done, terrible as it is.

[dave50]

Sorry  just one brave!

[douglas9401]

They manage to retain a sense of tumour through it all?

[Moorea7]

The majority accept it and try to carry on as best as normal.

[rowanwitch]

In my experience some are stoic, some defiant,some calm , some accepting, some tearful and terrified, as many responses as there are sufferers.  

These days there are conditions I think people would be more fearful of, MS, and MND, for two.  

 

[barry1010]

For the same reason everyone who has a disease, illness or injury is 'fighting'.   

Meaningless platitudes.

[rowanwitch]

And there are the chronic conditions that don't kill you, the ones you have no choice but to live with.  The ones that are mostly invisible apart from maybe the pain showing in your face.

[Deskdiary]

I liked Danny Baker's point when he had cancer of the head (of the head! Until I read his third memoir I had no idea such a thing existed).

He took the view he wasn't fighting cancer, he was merely the battlefield on which the Drs would be doing the fighting.

[barry1010]

Rowan, those with chronic conditions are 'stoic'

[andy-hughes]

I have queried this previously, people always succumb to cancer after a 'brave fight' which doesn't seem to apply to any other fatal condition  

[Countrylover]

I only supporto the less popular charities, never cancer.  Many cancers are now treatable and curable. Chronic uncurable conditions can be far more painful and debilitating. I know from experience.  The charities that help the stoic sufferers of these conditions are crying out for more funding,  but cancer charities attract more attention.  They can afford to advertise!

[fiveleaves]

How does a thread like this benefit cancer sufferers? Indeed how does it benefit anybody? 

[Deskdiary]

I get where Countrylover is coming from.

In the 80s my grandmother suffered from debilitating arthritis, but, as far as I am aware, arthritis doesn't kill.

She became a husk of a woman, her joints twisted beyond recognition, and was in permanent agonising pain - and often said she'd simply rather die.

She seemed ancient to me at the time, but was only in her early 70s.

[Countrylover]

I know how your grandmother felt DD!   Every day  is a challenge to get through.  

[rowanwitch]

I am not being stoic with my RA, I am tackling it like a hissing, spitting hellcat,  fighting back with everything at my disposal.  

[andy-hughes]

fiveleaves - // How does a thread like this benefit cancer sufferers? Indeed how does it benefit anybody? //

Welcome to our world!! 

[rowanwitch]

Sometimes a discussion  fires a thought,which leads to an idea that drives an  action... But mostly it's just fluff!

[nicebloke1]

I tend to think that many suffers are told this, in the hope it may give them a boost when they are feeling really low, does it give them a boost? no idea. I don't believe that a fat lot of people do consider them to be brave, or braver than having any other illness, but say because they think its whats expected off them in certain situations.

[Countrylover]

I'm afraid now I've run out of coping strategies.  I've been strong for a long time, but worn out both physically and mentally now after this year.  

[nicebloke1]

18. 44, Must agree with you. Some of these charities have got far to big, almost big business now. I tend to give to charities where I can see first hand what the money is being spent on, in other words local to my area.